Joanna Richardshttp://wrvo.org
enBP killing Cape Vincent Wind Farmhttp://wrvo.org/post/bp-killing-cape-vincent-wind-farm
<p></p><p>After battling local residents for years, energy company BP says it’s killing its proposal for the Cape Vincent Wind Farm. Some of the project’s most vocal critics are dancing on its grave.</p><p>Thu, 27 Feb 2014 00:58:24 +0000Joanna Richards51956 at http://wrvo.orgBP killing Cape Vincent Wind FarmArmy officers anxious as they await word of cutshttp://wrvo.org/post/army-officers-anxious-they-await-word-cuts
<p></p><p>In any company town, when the major employer is planning layoffs, people get worried. How will they earn a living if they lose their job? How will they remake their identity?</p><p>This is the picture for many Army officers stationed at Fort Drum. By early summer, some will find out they have to go.</p><p>It’s part of an overall downsizing of the military as the war in Afghanistan winds down. Evaluations this spring will determine whether some officers can stay in the service.</p>Thu, 20 Feb 2014 11:44:38 +0000Joanna Richards51614 at http://wrvo.orgArmy officers anxious as they await word of cutsUnited Way donations down, looking to St. Lawrence County for helphttp://wrvo.org/post/united-way-donations-down-looking-st-lawrence-county-help
<div><p></p>The United Way is one of America’s largest charitable organizations, helping to sustain thousands of small nonprofits that in turn help millions of people.&nbsp;</div><div><span style="line-height: 1.5;">But the Northern New York chapter of the United Way is in need of some help itself. Its mid-year fundraising totals show significant declines in giving from last year in Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties.&nbsp;</span></div><div>Thu, 06 Feb 2014 11:51:42 +0000Joanna Richards50839 at http://wrvo.orgUnited Way donations down, looking to St. Lawrence County for helpFort Drum among four locations to be studied for East Coast missile defense sitehttp://wrvo.org/post/fort-drum-among-four-locations-be-studied-east-coast-missile-defense-site
<p></p><p>The Defense Department has named Fort Drum as one of four military installations to house a possible East Coast missile defense facility.&nbsp;</p><p>Mon, 03 Feb 2014 10:30:00 +0000Joanna Richards50776 at http://wrvo.orgFort Drum among four locations to be studied for East Coast missile defense siteSyracuse professor building case against Syrian human rights abusershttp://wrvo.org/post/syracuse-professor-building-case-against-syrian-human-rights-abusers
<p>A few weeks ago, David Crane got a call. The Syracuse University law professor was asked to join a team who would be examining a collection of tens of thousands of gruesome photographs. They appeared to show widespread torture and killings at detention facilities run by Syrian president Bashar al-Assad’s government.</p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5;">Two days later, Crane was in the Middle East, with two other former war crimes prosecutors and forensics experts, poring over the images and interviewing the man who took them.</span></p>Fri, 31 Jan 2014 11:16:40 +0000Joanna Richards50616 at http://wrvo.orgSyracuse professor building case against Syrian human rights abusersWatertown Stream call center's parent company selling to rivalhttp://wrvo.org/post/watertown-stream-call-centers-parent-company-selling-rival
<p></p><p>The Stream Global Services call center in Watertown will change hands when its parent company is bought by a rival, <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/01/06/us-stream-convergys-deal-idUSBREA0512B20140106">according to Reuters</a>. It’s not clear what effect that might have on the 700 employees who work there.</p><p>Don Alexander heads the Jefferson County Industrial Development Agency. He says Stream’s significance to the area’s economy can’t be overstated and the company has been a good employer.</p>Fri, 10 Jan 2014 13:08:40 +0000Joanna Richards49734 at http://wrvo.orgStranded drivers find welcome at Jefferson County hotels, homeshttp://wrvo.org/post/stranded-drivers-find-welcome-jefferson-county-hotels-homes
<p>The last portions of Route 81 between Watertown and North Syracuse are open again, after lake-effect storms closed much of the highway down.<br /><br />Through the storms, hardy North Country natives have been helping stranded travelers. Many people spent last night in fire halls - the one in Adams took in 150 people. Watertown hotels right off the Interstate 81 exit were full, of both drivers and staff who couldn't get out, either.</p><p></p>Wed, 08 Jan 2014 21:45:24 +0000Joanna Richards49655 at http://wrvo.orgStranded drivers find welcome at Jefferson County hotels, homesWinter crows invade Watertownhttp://wrvo.org/post/winter-crows-invade-watertown
<p></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Every winter, Alfred Hitchcock's classic horror movie, “The Birds” gets a replay in Watertown. But not on the silver screen. Thousands of crows fly in from the countryside to roost overnight. The city's trying to evict them.&nbsp;</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Tue, 12 Nov 2013 01:40:26 +0000Joanna Richards47000 at http://wrvo.orgWinter crows invade WatertownFall in Pulaski brings thousands of salmon, and fishermen out to catch themhttp://wrvo.org/post/fall-pulaski-brings-thousands-salmon-and-fishermen-out-catch-them
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5;">Each fall, thousands of salmon swim upstream along the Salmon River and nearby creeks, trying to return to the state's Salmon River Fish Hatchery in </span>Altmar<span style="line-height: 1.5;">, where they were born. The fish head home to spawn. But they face a gauntlet of fisherman in the waterways around Pulaski, drawn by the fishes' large sizes and numbers. In this audio postcard, Joanna Richards spoke with local Pulaski resident and 30-year-fisherman Jose Fernandez along a small stream, where he was stalking salmon and escaping the crowd.</span></p>Fri, 01 Nov 2013 21:08:37 +0000Joanna Richards46036 at http://wrvo.orgFall in Pulaski brings thousands of salmon, and fishermen out to catch themLocal food craze hits booze market, toohttp://wrvo.org/post/local-food-craze-hits-booze-market-too
<p></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The local food trend in the North Country is starting to fill a new niche: alcoholic beverages. And not only are brewers and winemakers crafting their products there, but they're also taking advantage of the rural region to double the local appeal, with homegrown ingredients. Several of these businesses just opened in Jefferson County.</p>Wed, 30 Oct 2013 11:10:05 +0000Joanna Richards46303 at http://wrvo.orgLocal food craze hits booze market, tooPublic helps shape state study on health patterns near Air Brake sitehttp://wrvo.org/post/public-helps-shape-state-study-health-patterns-near-air-brake-site
<p></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.07in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal;">Earlier this week, a researcher from the state Health Department met with Watertown residents from the neighborhood near the New York Air Brake plant. The Health Department has agreed to study the area’s disease patterns because residents suspect that pollution from the plant has made people sick.</span></p>Thu, 24 Oct 2013 00:57:33 +0000Joanna Richards46094 at http://wrvo.orgPublic helps shape state study on health patterns near Air Brake siteUPDATE: North Country Children's Clinic gets last-minute rescuehttp://wrvo.org/post/update-north-country-childrens-clinic-gets-last-minute-rescue
<p></p><p>A last-minute deal was struck Thursday to rescue a long-standing health care safety net for needy north country children. The North Country Children&#39;s Clinic in Watertown <strong><a href="http://wrvo.org/post/childrens-clinic-closes-temporarily-under-financial-hardship">announced Tuesday</a></strong> that it would close suddenly, at the end of the week, because of dire financial problems. Now, the clinic has gotten at least another month of life.</p><p>Fri, 11 Oct 2013 04:05:47 +0000Joanna Richards45491 at http://wrvo.orgUPDATE: North Country Children's Clinic gets last-minute rescueChildren's Clinic closes temporarily under financial hardshiphttp://wrvo.org/post/childrens-clinic-closes-temporarily-under-financial-hardship
<p></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">When Dan Wasneechak took the helm of the North Country Children&#39;s Clinic in August, he had no idea that less than two months into his tenure, he&#39;d be announcing its temporary closure. But he did that yesterday afternoon, after a frantic week of trying to sort out the clinic&#39;s finances to keep it running.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Wed, 09 Oct 2013 05:55:29 +0000Joanna Richards45366 at http://wrvo.orgChildren's Clinic closes temporarily under financial hardshipFort Drum civilian workers hit with furloughs, againhttp://wrvo.org/post/fort-drum-civilian-workers-hit-furloughs-again
<p></p>Wed, 02 Oct 2013 11:40:27 +0000Joanna Richards45042 at http://wrvo.orgFort Drum civilian workers hit with furloughs, againU.S. Defense Secretary calls for military security reviewshttp://wrvo.org/post/us-defense-secretary-calls-military-security-reviews
<p></p>Fri, 27 Sep 2013 10:26:43 +0000Joanna Richards44807 at http://wrvo.orgSequester may mean more cutbacks at Fort Drumhttp://wrvo.org/post/sequester-may-mean-more-cutbacks-fort-drum
<p>Fort Drum may be facing personnel cutbacks as a result of the federal budget reductions known as sequestration. The post submitted recommendations to the Department of the Army about how it would want to make the cuts, if needed. &nbsp;</p><p>Wed, 18 Sep 2013 04:17:02 +0000Joanna Richards44318 at http://wrvo.orgSequester may mean more cutbacks at Fort DrumRally against NY SAFE Act draws crowd in Lewis Countyhttp://wrvo.org/post/rally-against-ny-safe-act-draws-crowd-lewis-county
<p>People climbed up the bleachers in the grandstand at the Lewis County Fairgrounds in Lowville on Saturday for a rally opposing the New York SAFE Act. More than 400 people turned out to condemn the controversial package of gun control measures passed by the state Legislature in January.</p><p></p>Mon, 17 Jun 2013 12:49:08 +0000Joanna Richards39685 at http://wrvo.orgRally against NY SAFE Act draws crowd in Lewis CountyVA Secretary Shinseki helps celebrate anniversary of medical centerhttp://wrvo.org/post/va-secretary-shinseki-helps-celebrate-anniversary-medical-center
<p>Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki is in Syracuse today to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the city's VA Medical Center.<br><br>Yesterday, he met with Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner and other community leaders who advocate for veterans for a round table discussion at Fowler High school about how to improve veterans' employment prospects.<br><br>Shinseki says veterans need to boost their job-seeking skills, but employers need to develop a better understanding of the value veterans can offer their businesses.<br>Fri, 14 Jun 2013 13:06:05 +0000Joanna Richards39543 at http://wrvo.orgClayton Hotel development underwayhttp://wrvo.org/post/clayton-hotel-development-underway
<p>A big redevelopment project is getting underway in the village of Clayton. The first pieces of equipment have been at work on the former Frink Snowplow Factory site in recent weeks. This represents the beginning of an aggressive construction schedule that aims to bring the Clayton Harbor Hotel to life by Memorial Day 2014.<br><br>Kristi Dippel, head of the Clayton Local Development Corporation, says it's gratifying to see all the planning on the project coming to fruition.<br><br>"After over 10 years that this has been in the making, and we finally have activity on site, it's definitely the talk on the street, it's the talk of the town. People are very excited to see something happening over there," she said.Fri, 31 May 2013 12:31:31 +0000Joanna Richards38693 at http://wrvo.orgFather, daughter Fort Drum soldiers will deploy together to Afghanistanhttp://wrvo.org/post/father-daughter-fort-drum-soldiers-will-deploy-together-afghanistan
<p>An unusual pair of “battle buddies” is about to deploy to Afghanistan from Fort Drum. Michael and Miranda Mogg are a father-daughter pair of soldiers with the 10<sup>th</sup> Combat Aviation Brigade of the Army's 10<sup>th</sup> Mountain Division.Thu, 25 Apr 2013 14:38:28 +0000Joanna Richards36776 at http://wrvo.orgFather, daughter Fort Drum soldiers will deploy together to AfghanistanSoldiers say Army instills reverence, respect for weaponshttp://wrvo.org/post/soldiers-say-army-instills-reverence-respect-weapons-0
<p>Speaking to soldiers about firearms, no matter what their individual views are on gun control, one thing becomes clear: they take them seriously.</p><p>Fri, 08 Feb 2013 09:03:00 +0000Joanna Richards33012 at http://wrvo.orgSoldiers say Army instills reverence, respect for weaponsSchumer may play key role in Hagel nominationhttp://wrvo.org/post/schumer-may-play-key-role-hagel-nomination
<p>New York's Senator Charles Schumer is emerging as a key player in the controversial nomination of Chuck Hagel to be the Obama administration's next defense secretary. Mon, 14 Jan 2013 21:49:13 +0000Joanna Richards31858 at http://wrvo.orgInformation technology improves health care in the North Countryhttp://wrvo.org/post/information-technology-improves-health-care-north-country
<p>While lots of industries turned to information technology long ago to improve efficiency, accuracy and collaboration, until now, health care has lagged behind. Now, a big project has aimed to leverage IT in the health care in the state’s rural North Country. &nbsp;</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Mon, 17 Dec 2012 11:11:00 +0000Joanna Richards30574 at http://wrvo.orgInformation technology improves health care in the North CountryIBM grant recognizes Clarkson smart grid researcherhttp://wrvo.org/post/ibm-grant-recognizes-clarkson-smart-grid-researcher
<p>Gov. Andrew Cuomo recently announced New York would invest $250 million to develop smart grid technologies to modernize the state's energy grid. At Clarkson University, the highly regarded science and engineering school in St. Lawrence County, a professor working on smart energy grid systems was just awarded a grant by IBM. The $10,000 prize will help him continue his research, and develop coursework for students to train the next generation to use this hot technology.Thu, 22 Nov 2012 14:00:00 +0000Joanna Richards29503 at http://wrvo.orgIBM grant recognizes Clarkson smart grid researcherSoldiers, families reflect on fidelity in wake of Petraeus's affairhttp://wrvo.org/post/soldiers-families-reflect-fidelity-wake-petraeuss-affair
<p>Marital fidelity is a sensitive subject for many in the military. Relationships are stressed by distance, frequent moves and the dangers of war. Gen. David Petraeus's admission that he had an extramarital affair has led some Fort Drum families to reflect on the difficulties of keeping their personal relationships whole – and their image among a public that often doesn't understand their culture.&nbsp;</p><p>Mon, 19 Nov 2012 13:46:26 +0000Joanna Richards29262 at http://wrvo.orgMilitary Moral Codehttp://wrvo.org/post/military-moral-code
Transcript <p>LINDA WERTHEIMER, HOST: <p>Marital fidelity is a sensitive subject for many in the military. Relationships are often strained by distance, frequent moves, the dangers of war. Gen. David Petraeus' admission that he had an extramarital affair has led some military families to reflect on the difficulties of keeping their personal relationships whole. Reporter Joanna Richards spoke with families from the Army's 10th Mountain Division, based at Fort Drum, in upstate New York.<p>JOANNA RICHARDS, BYLINE: Around Fort Drum, Gen.Mon, 19 Nov 2012 09:49:00 +0000Joanna Richards29335 at http://wrvo.orgVillage of Chaumont votes against dissolutionhttp://wrvo.org/post/village-chaumont-votes-against-dissolution
<p>Voters in Chaumont, in Jefferson County, knocked down a ballot measure to dissolve the village, by a vote of 145 to 102.Wed, 07 Nov 2012 21:15:00 +0000Joanna Richards28774 at http://wrvo.orgJobs were top issue for audience at Doheny-Owens debatehttp://wrvo.org/post/jobs-were-top-issue-audience-doheny-owens-debate-0
<p>In northern New York, a large audience showed up for the debate televised on YNN was held in the contentious race between Democrat incumbent Bill Owens and Republican challenger Matt Doheny.&nbsp; Sat, 27 Oct 2012 08:51:00 +0000Joanna Richards28167 at http://wrvo.orgKids study water levels' effects on invasive species at Eel Bayhttp://wrvo.org/post/kids-study-water-levels-effects-invasive-species-eel-bay
<p>Construction of the giant hydropower dam near Massena in the 1950s forever tamed the once wild St. Lawrence River. It allowed engineers to harness the river’s natural ebb and flow for energy production and to protect homes and ports at the same time. But in the process, it hurt the indigenous plants and animals that depend on those highs and lows to survive. The environmental group Save The River has been leading a charge to persuade the agency that controls water levels to return more natural ebbs and flows to the St. Lawrence. One way is by giving the younger generation of River residents a hands-on lesson.Thu, 25 Oct 2012 13:10:37 +0000Joanna Richards27997 at http://wrvo.orgCape Vincent wind power meeting message to BP: "Go Home!"http://wrvo.org/post/cape-vincent-wind-power-meeting-message-bp-go-home
<p>Town officials and community members from the Jefferson County towns of Cape Vincent and Lyme gave energy company BP a clear signal at a meeting last night in Cape Vincent: a wind farm isn't welcome there. Wed, 24 Oct 2012 18:37:52 +0000Joanna Richards28045 at http://wrvo.orgCape Vincent wind power meeting message to BP: "Go Home!"